Space debris as a threat to sustainable development on Earth

Transcription

1 Space debris as a threat to sustainable development on Earth EISC WORKSHOP, 14 May 2012, Cracow, Poland Agata Jozwicka, Astri Polska, Poland

2 Astri Polska Astri Polska joint venture of Space Research Center PAS and Astrium SAS (50%) Close cooperation with shareholders offers a great support of the most experienced Polish and European specialists in the fields related to space research and technologies our services are certain and of top quality. Qualified staff and modern laboratories provide design, development and testing of innovative construction solutions Astri Polska is involved in 5 FP7 projects (already started) in Space (3) & Security (2) and several European consortia for new projects applications. New opportunities to be investigated jointly: critical technologies, composites, Marie Curie academic networks (ITN). Astri Polska was involved in the European Space Agency's (ESA) Technology Transfer Programme in Poland (PECS funds).

3 Astri Polska Technology & Products Division In the scope of Technology & Products division Astri Polska enhances its engineering excellence in: Board and ground electronics Optoelectronics Robotics Material sciences Satellite navigation systems Electronic unit:has unique competences in FPGA technology and system reliability and capability rising. Optoelectronic unit: specializes in optics, photonics, optical materials, applications of lasers, optical measurements, simulations, modelling, and robotics

4 Astri Polska Services & Applications Division Astri Polska focuses on creating and providing integrated services combining satellite, telecommunication and Earth observation technologies Flexible offer, which is always fit to the customers in order to meet their high expectations, is our distinguishing feature Broadband satellite Internet Satellite images Precise agriculture Crisis management Site monitoring Forest monitoring Technology transfer

5 Sources of Space Debris Propulsion system production of slag and dust particles which are mainly composed of aluminium oxide (Al2O3) by solid rocket motors firing diameter between 0.01 to 3 cm and sometimes 5 cm debris are estimated to come from propellant for over tons, aluminium oxide for over 320 tons and slag for more than 4 tons Historic sources: ejection of reactor cores from Bulk reactors after the end of operation of Russian RORSATs in the 1980s release of thin copper wires as part of a radio communication experiment during the MIDAS missions in the 1960s

6 Sources of Space Debris The harsh space environment surfaces are weakened and damaged due to ageing, embitterment by extreme ultra violet radiation and the microparticle impact micro particulate matter can degrade the easily damaged surface components such as solar arrays and protective coatings the influence of extreme ultra violet radiation, impinging atomic oxygen and impacting micro particles, surfaces of space objects start to erode leads to mass losses of surface coatings and to the detachment of paint flakes with sizes from micrometre to mm sizes Historic sources: mission STS 7 of the space shuttle Challenger collided with a paint chip measuring two tenths of a millimetre, necessitating the replacement of a portion of the craft's windshield Source: NSWP

7 How many of debris are in Space Source: ESA

8 Threat from space debris Relative velocity of over 10 km/s ( km/h!, the fastest trains do not exceed 600 km/h). Collision with 100g debris flying at 10km/s speed is like a collision with 1000kg car at 200 km/h! Collision with satellites on orbit Severe damages: holes, cut cables, tethers. Impact of smaller particles: degradation of surfaces, mirrors, solar panels. On , nonfunctional Russian satellite Cosmos 2251 collided with and destroyed U.S. commercial Iridium 33 satellite. This impact generated additional more than 2,000 pieces of debris

9 Threat from space debris Dangerous for astronauts On ISS board. Astronauts during EVA. On their way to and from the ISS. Larger space debris may fall through the atmosphere!! ISS requires special shielding. ISS and shuttles had to perform few times avoidance maneuvers. Windows in shuttles and ISS have to be exchange periodically due to damages from debris. In worse cases astronauts have to hide in escape capsule.

10 Micro, nano and pico satellites Micro, nano and pico satellites are becoming more and more popular. Growing number such devices is related to: Low mass, low launch cost Allowed to check new innovative components and technologies Commercially existing components Launched as additional payload Interest from large communities such as universities, private companies, etc. Source: sat.pl/ Potential danger from small satellites is related to: Difficulties in tracking, orbit determination and identification Rapidly growing number 10 cm satellite it s enough to cause catastrophic collision (causing creation of huge number of additional space debris) Lack of own propulsion system: mitigation and controlled deorbitation process is impossible

11 Near Earth Asteroids Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet, although astronomers are finding new ones all the time. On May 9, 2012 there were 1287 potentially hazardous asteroids. Recent & Upcoming Earth asteroid encounters: Source:

12 Importance of Space Situation Awarness (SSA) SSA will: Strength the reliability, availability and security of Europe's space based services such as: Being developed Galileo navigation programme Broadband Internet satellites Imaging, mapping and weather broadcast satellites Crisis management Give a chance for Europe to reaffirm its autonomous access to space, gain full knowledge of events in the economically and strategically important orbits near Earth, and enhance the peaceful uses of outer space in cooperation with international partners Help for European industry to benefit from contracts and new, world class competitive capabilities gained through the development of SSA infrastructure and services

13 CLEANSPACE Project led by CILAS, involving 9 partners from 4 countries Overall CLEANSPACE objective is to define a global architecture (including surveillance, identification and tracking) for an innovative ground based laser solution which can remove hazardous medium debris around selected space assets. This approach is divided into three steps: To propose an efficient and affordable global system architecture by taking up survey, tracking, identification and debris treatment by laser system fully in complement with Space Situational Awareness (SSA) ESA programme, To tackle safety regulation aspects, political implications and future collaborations, Technology work on affordable technological bricks and to establish roadmap for the development and the future implantation of a fully functional laser protection system. space.eu

14 ReVuS Reducing Vulnerability of Space Systems Project led by Astrium SAS, involving 9 partners from 4 countries The ReVuS project aims to assess and provide solutions at system and architecture level, in particular to provide better shielding for LEO satellites. Objectives: to evaluate the effect of small debris on the current satellites, to propose system concepts and spacecraft architectures solutions for improving resiliency of space systems to small debris impact, to define, select and test shielding materials, to compare and mix the selected solutions and evaluate their resiliency to debris impact, to propose satellite design rules, project.eu to disseminate the work results.

15 Conclusions Cooperative programs enabling development of the systems/technologies to: Protect the satellites (short term) Mitigate the space debris (longer term) Network of European radar and optical based stations to add as a complementary facility to the existing space observation infrastructure Scientific/Military stations Amateur astronomers Space Debris Policy related to the recent nano and picosatellites projects European Worldwide

16 Thank you Dr Eng. Agata Jozwicka CEO at Astri Polska Sp. z o.o. Bartycka 18a Warsaw P: +48 (22) F: +48 (22) E mail: agata.jozwicka@astripolska.pl